"I'm so emotional" - Tete Dijana earns coaching stripes after his young charge Molopi takes bronze at SA Cross Country Champs

Famous for being a three-time Comrades Marathon winner, Tete Dijana is beginning to make a name for himself as a mentor and coach. This after one of the athletes under his guidance delivered a memorable performance at the Athletics South Africa (ASA) Cross Country Championships which took place at Curro Hazeldean in Tshwane on Saturday 5 September.

Running in the colours of Athletics North West North, Tiisang Molopi claimed the bronze medal behind the Central Gauteng Athletics pair of Zenzile Pheko and Chris Mhlanga to emerge as the surprise package of the senior men's 10km race.

Molopi stops his watch as he crosses the finish line to claim a memorable bronze medal. Photo Credit: Cecilia van Bers.

"Eish, I feel so emotional right now," he told #TheTopRunner. "I want to thank God first. Secondly I must thank my coach, my family, my club and my teammates. This medal is not mine alone."

"The race was tough, very tough. It was hilly and the guys were pushing hard. At one point I dropped to fifth place. But I did not panic and stuck to my plan to run my splits and maintain a 2:54min/km average pace. I focused on my breathing and fought for that third place. The results shows all the hard work and effort that I put in," said Molopi who clocked 14:16.95 to take ninth position in the 5000m at the ASA Senior Track & Field Championships in April.

Dijana poses with Molopi and the rest of his athletes after they took part in the Absa RUN YOUR CITY TSHWANE 10K on 23 August. Photo Credit: Supplied.

Earning a maiden podium position at a national championship has vindicated Dijana's decision to invest in the considerable running talent which lies fallow in areas of the North West such as Mafikeng. Two years ago the Hollywood Athletics Club star started recruiting youngsters like 22-year-old Molopi with a view to moulding them into the next generation of top runners.

"I decided to mentor them because I want to be an elite coach. I am assisting 8 athletes. ⁠I train with them and they stay with me at my house. I buy them shoes, food supplements, transport them to the races and make sure that they are also entered. Taking them from street is my way of giving back to the community. ⁠I was very happy about Tiisang’s performance because it gave the rest of them confidence in terms of my coaching. It shows that I am on the right track for developing young athletes."

Molopi in action at the Hollywoodbets Durban 10km where he dipped under 30 minutes for the first time. Photo Credit: Hollywoodbets Durban 10km.

Buoyed by his bronze medal and a new 10km personal best - 29:59 at the Hollywoodbets Durban 10km on 30 August - Molopi has set his sights on a strong showing at the Absa RUN YOUR CITY JOBURG 10K on 24 September, where he will look to claim his first top ten finish in a major SA 10km road race.